Forwarders welcome transparent pricing

January 07, 2015:The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has given a cautious welcome to the news that Emirates SkyCargo is set to move to all-in pricing, including fuel and security surcharges, on air freight shipments to and from Europe from February 1st and on the airline's global network from March 1st.

Last year, Robert Keen, Director General of BIFA called for the world's container shipping lines to provide clearer explanations of the growing variety of surcharges that they apply and welcomes the Emirates SkyCargo announcement as "a step in the right direction, provided it leads to the transparency that freight forwarders require".

He added that he felt that the move should: "provide simpler and more transparent cost structures, something that freight forwarders have been calling for, having faced various surcharges with questionable names and purposes from shipping lines and airlines.